Monday 9 December 2013

Late addition to the garden year list

Having missed out on this one in the Spring was pleased to get a Satellite as the only visitor to the garden trap last night.


Satellite (Eupsilia transversa)

Saturday 12 October 2013

Autumnal Assembly

It has been a good autumn so far at the garden trap, this just a chance to reflect on some if the beauties trapped thus far...

Brown-spot Pinion and Autumnal Rustic

Brown-spot Pinion (Agrochola litura) and Autumnal Rustic (Eugnorisma glareosa)


Brindled Green

Brindled Green (Dryobotodes eremita)


Beaded Chestnut

Beaded Chestnut (Agrochola lychnidis)

Sallow, Barred Sallow and Pink-barred Sallow

Pink-barred Sallow (Xanthia togata), Sallow (X. icteritia) and Barred Sallow (X. aurago)

Black Rustic

Black Rustic (Aporophyla nigra)

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Vestal variations

Well it is certainly turning out to be a pretty good autumn for migrant moths and I have managed to get in on the action a little too.

Had five Vestal over the last three days, showing the considerable variation in this beautiful species.

2 x Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria)

Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria)

Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria)

Vestal (Rhodometra sacraria)

Tuesday 24 September 2013

Yarrow double-header

Whilst I was actively searching for the first of these - Coleophora argentula larval cases - the second was a chance find - Yarrow Pug larva

Both on Yarrow in the field by the house.

Coleophora argentula larval case

Coleophora argentula larval case on Yarrow


Yarrow Pug (Eupithecia millefoliata) larva


Yarrow Pug (Eupithecia millefoliata) larva


Dave

Monday 23 September 2013

700 and beyond...

Whilst finally getting MapMate up to date, after what has been a very busy season, I realised that I have now passed the 700 species mark for my humble back garden.  Some of the species that pushed it beyond 700 are illustrated below...

Scallop Shell (Rheumaptera undulata)

Scallop Shell (Rheumaptera undulata)

Pempelia obductella

Pempelia obductella

Loxostege sticticalis

Loxostege sticticalis

Evergestis limbata

Evergestis limbata

Thursday 12 September 2013

Moths of the Lot 2013: part II

As things are slowing up a bit at the garden trap, time for a few more from this summer's trip to SW France...

Eublemma pura

Eublemma pura


Scarce Chocolate-tip (Clostera anachoreta)

Scarce Chocolate-tip (Clostera anachoreta)


Agrotera nemoralis

Agrotera nemoralis

Alchymist (Catephia alchymista)

Alchymist (Catephia alchymista)

Tuesday 10 September 2013

Metallic mash-up

Not a natural photo, but hey, I couldn't resist putting these two metallic-themed beauties together for a photo shoot: for me the brass outshines the gold...


Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis) and Gold Spot (Plusia festucae)


Burnished Brass


Gold Spot (Plusia festucae)

Tuesday 27 August 2013

Another pleasant surprise

Quite a few unexpected species been turning up in the back garden of late, the latest of which is new to the garden list - Toadflax Brocade (Calophasia lunula).


Toadflax Brocade (Calophasia lunula)

Monday 26 August 2013

A new Carpet

On a pleasant walk in woodland near home yesterday and yet another accidental find of a new moth for me - White-banded Carpet (Spargania luctuata).

Somewhat of a Kent woodland speciality but still great to bag a new one.

White-banded Carpet (Spargania luctuata)

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Tri-Pug try out...

Three Pug species added themselves to the garden year list over recent days and thankfully didn't take hours and hours to sort, unlike many of their congeners...


Cypress Pug (Eupithecia phoeniceata)
Cypress Pug (Eupithecia phoeniceata)

White-spotted Pug (Eupithecia tripunctaria)
White-spotted Pug (Eupithecia tripunctaria)

Bordered Pug (Eupithecia succenturiata)
Bordered Pug (Eupithecia succenturiata)

Tuesday 20 August 2013

Moth of Kent or Kentish Moth?

Just a play on the age old conundrum for those born in the Garden of England that is, are you a Man (or Maiden) of Kent or a Kentish Man (or Maiden).

These two just lend themselves to this wordplay and they're good looking moths to boot: the first is Kent Black Arches and the second is a Black Arches from Kent...

Kent Black Arches


Black Arches (Lymantria monacha)










Sunday 18 August 2013

Moths of the Lot 2013: part I

A return trip to mothing heaven at Las Descargues in the Lot region of SW France yielded so many more amazing moths...many new for me an some new to the site too.


Euchromius bellus

Euchromius bellus

Spurge Hawk-moth (Hyles euphorbiae) and Plum Lappet (Odonestis pruni)

Spurge Hawk-moth and Plum Lappet

Many more to follow...



Monday 22 July 2013

Cast or kettle?

In the English tradition of collective nouns, a group of hawks (yes, applied to birds but I've extrapolated) can be a kettle or a cast. It is safe to say I have certainly had a cast of Hawk-moths in the garden this year, with many nights with multiples of several species in the trap.


Pine Hawk-moth (Hyloicus pinastri) with Elephant Hawk-moths (Deilephila elpenor)


Lime Hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae) and Privet Hawk-moths (Sphinx ligustri)


Poplar Hawk-moths (Laothoe populi)


Eyed Hawk-moth (Smerinthus ocellata)


Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila elpenor)


Lime Hawk-moth (Mimas tiliae) f. brunnea





Saturday 20 July 2013

Just Peachy

What's not to love about this moth - Peach Blossom - quite a few turning up at the garden trap this week.


Peach Blossom (Thyatira batis)

Thursday 18 July 2013

Ruddy, L

Another two from the garden in recent days: Ruddy Carpet and L-album Wainscot. Both are annual visitors to the garden but always great to see...

Ruddy Carpet (Catarhoe rubidata)
Ruddy Carpet (Catarhoe rubidata)

L-album Wainscot (Mythimna l-album)
L-album Wainscot (Mythimna l-album)



Wednesday 17 July 2013

How did it get its name???

Whilst many of the vernacular names in the moth world can leave one bemused as to their origins, this one certainly fits into the 'no-brainer' category...such a beauty.  I had two in the garden trap on 15th July, nominate form and f. corylaria.


Orange Moth (Angerona prunaria)


Tuesday 16 July 2013

To adorn with decorations...

... or in other words, Festoon.

Festoon (Apoda limacodes)

 The diminutive moth that goes by this name has been turning up on the garden over recent nights, always a treat...if it wasn't for the scientist in me, I might use the word cute here, but I'd better not...

Friday 5 July 2013

In the Buff

No need to avert your gaze, simply a quartet from the garden trap over the last few days with one thing in common, although the interpretation of Buff on each one tends to vary.


Buff Footman (Eilema depressa)
Buff Footman


Buff Arches (Habrosyne pyritoides)
Buff Arches

Buff Ermine (Spilosoma luteum)
Buff Ermine

Buff-tip
Buff-tip


Tuesday 25 June 2013

More cool cats

A couple of great looking caterpillars that I am rearing through.  I particularly love the 'face' on the Mullein cat...

Mullein (Shargacucullia verbasci) larva

Mullein

Mullein (Shargacucullia verbasci) larva

Mullein

Drinker (Euthrix potatoria) larva

Drinker